Are You Focused? Finding Your True Identity in Christ
In our fast-paced world filled with distractions, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. Just like ship captains who cause disasters when they take their eyes off what’s ahead, we can experience spiritual disaster when we lose focus on Christ and what He’s done for us.
What Does It Mean to Be Raised with Christ?
Paul begins Colossians 3 with a powerful reminder: “If then you have been raised with Christ…” This isn’t a hypothetical statement – Paul is writing to believers, people who have already placed their faith in Jesus. When we trust in Christ, we experience a spiritual resurrection.
The Reality of New Life
Being raised with Christ means we’ve been given new life by God. Our old record of debts and sins has been canceled and paid for at the cross. We’re no longer slaves to sin, and our new identity is holy, blameless, and above reproach. We’ve become sons and daughters of God with an inheritance we never qualified for apart from Christ.
This transformation is complete and permanent. As Paul writes in Ephesians, God “made us alive together with Christ” and “raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
Where Should Our Focus Be?
Seek the Things Above
Paul gives us a clear command: “seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” This isn’t about ignoring earthly responsibilities or living with our heads in the clouds. Rather, it’s about maintaining proper perspective and priority.
When Paul says to seek things above, he’s contrasting this with the distractions he’s addressed throughout Colossians – plausible arguments, philosophies, human traditions, rule-following, spiritual experiences, and self-discipline that lead us away from dependence on Christ.
Set Your Mind on Christ
Paul emphasizes this point by repeating it: “Set your mind on things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.” We’re called to anchor our minds on Christ and the truths about who we are in Him.
Think of it like a young baseball player at the plate. There are voices from the stands, teammates yelling advice, and internal doubts swirling. But the only voice that matters is the coach’s. Similarly, we need to tune out all the other voices telling us we need to do more or be more, and focus solely on Christ.
Why Can We Live with This Focus?
Our Old Life is Dead
Paul explains that “you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Our old way of life is completely gone. We’re no longer slaves to sin, though we may still struggle with habits that lead to sin.
Many Christians live as if they’re still chained to their old life, but Scripture declares that chain has been cut. When our hearts, minds, or the enemy tell us we’re slaves to sin, we can boldly declare that’s a lie.
Our Life is Secure
The most incredible truth Paul shares is that our life is “hidden with Christ in God.” This means our life is safely stored in the greatest security vault in the universe – with Christ at the right hand of the Father.
This should eliminate our anxiety about whether we’re good enough for heaven or if God truly loves us. Our future is not uncertain or insecure. Our eternity is not unsure because our life is hidden with Christ in God.
What About Christ’s Return?
Paul points us to the future: “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Our future when Christ returns is absolutely certain – not because our good deeds outweighed our bad ones, but because our life is found in Christ alone.
We won’t stand with Christ that day because of philosophy, rules we followed, experiences we had, or disciplines we maintained. We’ll stand there because of Jesus Christ and our faith in Him.
How Should This Change Our Daily Lives?
Past, Present, and Future Perspective
Paul structures these truths around three time periods:
Past: You have been raised with Christ. Your old life is dead. You are hidden with Him.
Future: When Christ appears, you will appear with Him in glory.
Present: Therefore, seek the things above. Set your mind on Christ.
Living from Approval, Not for Approval
Understanding these truths should transform how we wake up each morning. Instead of thinking, “Maybe today I’ll be good enough for God,” we should wake up with tremendous gratitude, saying, “God, help me live today in a way that shows my deep gratitude for all You’ve done.”
We don’t work for God’s approval, acceptance, and security – we work from His approval, acceptance, and security.
Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to live with your focus firmly fixed on Christ rather than on the distractions around you. When you wake up each morning, remind yourself that your life is hidden with Christ in God – you are safe, secure, and loved not because of what you do, but because of what He has done.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Where is my focus throughout the day – on my performance or on Christ’s finished work?
- Am I living like I’m still a slave to my old life, or am I embracing the freedom of my new life in Christ?
- Do I wake up anxious about being good enough, or grateful for what Christ has already accomplished for me?
- How can I share this incredible security and hope with others who are still striving to earn God’s approval?
Remember, your identity, security, and future are not found in what you do, but in who Christ is and what He has done for you. Live this week from that unshakeable foundation.
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